The… Read Full Bio ↴Hermosa Beach, California, USA (1979–1990, 1994–1995, 2001–2010)
The Circle Jerks were an American hardcore punk band, formed in 1979 in Los Angeles, California. The group was founded by former Black Flag vocalist Keith Morris and Red Kross guitarist Greg Hetson. They were among the preeminent hardcore punk bands of the LA scene in the late 1970s.
The band broke up and reformed three times, sometimes with different bassists and/or drummers. They disbanded for the first time after the release of their fifth album, 1987's VI, as Hetson decided to continue touring and releasing albums with Bad Religion. They reunited around 1994 and recorded a reunion album, Oddities, Abnormalities and Curiosities, during the following year, followed by a tour. After that, the Circle Jerks once again parted ways as Hetson was still involved in Bad Religion. They reunited again circa 2001, but as of 2010, are on hiatus.
To date, the Circle Jerks have released six studio albums, one compilation, a live album and a live DVD. Their last studio album, Oddities, Abnormalities and Curiosities, was released in 1995 and was the band's only reunion album to date.
Many recent groups and artists cite the Circle Jerks as an influence, including Flea (musician), Anti-Flag,[1][2] Dropkick Murphys,[3] The Offspring[2] and Pennywise.[2]
Stars and Stripes
Circle Jerks Lyrics
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Got us in this situation
Predicament
No where to run
Everybody's building bombs
No more housewives;
"Days of Our Lives",
Basketball or stars and stripes
Their chairman's on his death bed
Our president's popularity is down
An epileptic called a colonel
Presses a button
And its all knocked down
No more housewives;
"Days of Our Lives",
Television, Disneyland,
Basketball or stars and stripes
Hahaha,
You're all gonna die,
And you voted for that guy
Science, modern technology,
Digs your grave
Care of Moscow and DC,
Votes you never gave
No more housewives;
"Days of Our Lives",
Television,Disneyland,
Basketball or stars and stripes
Or stars and stripes,
Or stars and stripes,
Or stars and stripes
My country 'tis of thee
Sweet land of liberty
The lyrics to Circle Jerks' song Stars and Stripes express a sense of despair and hopelessness towards the current state of affairs in the world. The song is overtly political, condemning both the past and present actions of the government that have brought us into this current predicament. The lines "what they did, past or present, got us in this situation" speaks to the idea that the mistakes made in the past continue to have repercussions in the present. The songwriter suggests that we are all trapped in a dangerous world with no escape, as "everybody's building bombs."
The song then goes on to criticize the American way of life, referencing popular culture icons such as housewives, TV shows like Days of Our Lives, Disneyland, basketball, and of course, the Stars and Stripes. This suggests that these symbols of American life are no longer the pillars of the country but rather distractions from the underlying problems that are putting the nation at risk. With the chairman on his deathbed, the president's popularity down, and an epileptic colonel with his finger on the button, the songwriter is essentially saying that everything the people of America once cherished is now under threat. The song's chilling refrain of "You're all gonna die, and you voted for that guy," is a harsh reminder that the consequences of our actions have brought us to this point.
Line by Line Meaning
What they did,past or present
Our current situation is a direct result of actions taken by those in power in the past and present.
Got us in this situation
The situation we find ourselves in is a direct result of the actions taken by those in power.
Predicament
Our situation is difficult and unpleasant, and we are not sure how to get out of it.
No where to run
There is no escape from this situation.
Everybody's building bombs
There is a strong emphasis on military power and building weapons, rather than focusing on peace and diplomacy.
No more housewives;
Traditional gender roles and expectations are no longer relevant or sustainable in this new world order.
"Days of Our Lives",
Soap operas and other forms of escapist entertainment are no longer meaningful or useful distractions in this new reality.
Television, Disneyland,
Modern entertainment and consumer culture are no longer important or relevant when faced with larger, existential threats.
Basketball or stars and stripes
Sports and patriotic symbolism are meaningless distractions in the face of global threats.
Their chairman's on his death bed
The leader of one of our rival nations is dying, leading to uncertainty and potentially dangerous power vacuums.
Our president's popularity is down
The leader of our own nation is not as popular as they once were, and this may have political and global consequences.
An epileptic called a colonel
A mentally unstable military leader has the power to make unilateral decisions with catastrophic consequences.
Presses a button
A single decision or action can have irreversible and catastrophic effects on the entire planet.
And its all knocked down
The systems and structures we have created are fragile and vulnerable to collapse.
Hahaha,
A sarcastic, bitter tone underscores the seriousness of the issues being discussed.
You're all gonna die,
The stakes are life and death, and no one is safe from the consequences of the actions taken by those in power.
And you voted for that guy
The electorate bears some responsibility for the actions of their chosen leaders and the state of the world.
Science, modern technology,
The technologies and innovations we have developed have the potential to be both life-saving and life-ending.
Digs your grave
Our insatiable thirst for progress and technological advancement may ultimately lead to our own destruction.
Care of Moscow and DC,
The responsibility for these issues lies with both our own leaders and those of other nations.
Votes you never gave
We are all responsible for the actions of our leaders, even if we did not explicitly vote for them.
Or stars and stripes,
The symbolism of patriotism represented by the American flag is no longer effective or relevant in the face of global issues.
My country 'tis of thee
A reference to the lyrics of a patriotic American song.
Sweet land of liberty
A reference to America as the land of the free, highlighting the contrast between this ideal and the harsh realities of the present global situation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GREG W. HETSON, KEITH G. MORRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind